The Rambling Spy Read online

  Karl stood back up. “I’d like for all of you to follow up with your blacksmiths and make sure everyone in your district gets a bell. When it’s done, let me know. Myron’s already asked me to let him know how we stand on this before winter.” Karl paused. “Next, Chadwick asked if he could address the group.”

  Chadwick walked to the front of the room. “I spent the day yesterday in a small village that was hit by a tornado. Myron took me up there so I could check on the repairs and help out with getting needed supplies. He also took Sister Hayley from the chapel here. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but a lot of people were banged up. She set up a makeshift clinic in a corner of the dry goods store, the only building that wasn’t damaged. When it was over, I asked her about her day. She said she bandaged wounds, checked bruises, made poultices, and mixed up teas. And when the injuries were taken care of, some of the mothers asked her to check out their children. Then I asked her if an aide could have handled what she did. She said she didn’t need to use her healing hands at all, none of the injuries were that bad. Everything she did could have been done by a chapel aide. And she knows what she’s talking about. She’s been an aide for four years, but a sister for only six months.”

  Chadwick glanced around the room. Several ministers looked interested, a few looked puzzled, but most looked bored. “So why am I bothering to tell you about this? Because I was one of the ones complaining when Governor Karl’s wife insisted we find out how many areas are too far away from a chapel to be seen on a regular basis. I thought the whole thing was a waste of time when she mentioned it last year, and same as a lot of you, I resented it when she said she’d talk to my wife if I didn’t get it done this year. But now I understand what she’s talking about. It matters. Several of the mothers thanked us for bringing Sister Hayley, saying what a relief it was to have someone who knows what they’re doing check out their children. I never realized how much training aides get, but if everything she did yesterday was based on the training she got as an aide, they’re plenty capable of looking after most villages. So, if any of you are thinking it’s a waste of time, it isn’t. We need to do this.”

  Chadwick started towards his seat, stopped, and stepped back in front. “And while I’m up here, I’ve got something else to say. We had trees down across roads, on houses, barns, sheds, everywhere. And we had a few people trapped inside those buildings. If they’d had those bells, we’d have gone to them first, but as it was, we didn’t know about them until word of mouth reached us, and in one case, word of mouth was delayed because the whole family was trapped. They were lucky we found them. A bell would have come in real handy. That’s not a bad idea either.” Chadwick turned to Karl, nodded, and headed back to his seat.

  Karl took a long breath and stood up. “Now the floor is open to any new business.” As several hands went up, Karl nodded and started the last session of the conference.

  ~~~~

  After Kevin left the ministers, he went back to his office and shut the door. A couple of hours later, Chris stuck his head in and said, “We need to get dressed for the closing banquet.”

  Kevin frowned. “Why? I’m not speaking. Why can’t I wear what I’ve got on?”

  “Because you’re the host.”

  “No, I’m not. Karl is. It’s his thing.”

  Chris shook his head. “It’s your house. You’re the host. And besides, I bet Cryslyn has a new uniform waiting for you upstairs. You don’t want to disappoint her by not wearing it after she went to all the trouble to have it made.”

  “She’s probably lined up someone who wants to buy it,” Kevin said with a snort. “I still can’t get used to the idea of her selling my clothes.”

  Chris shrugged. “There are worse ways to raise money. Now come on. I’ve got something to tell you but I don’t want to get into it down here.”

  Kevin got up. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m guessing not.”

  When Kevin reached his room, there was a new uniform hanging on his door. As he took it down he asked, “So? What did you want to tell me?”

  “Give me a minute to change clothes first.” Chris took down his new uniform. “Wonder if she’s selling mine, too.”

  “Probably,” Kevin said as he shut the door.

  Five minutes later Chris came through the adjoining door and leaned against the wall.

  Kevin was nearly done. All he had left to do was tie the red sash around his waist. “So? What’s up?”

  “Remember the lady who had her bags packed so she could come play hostess?”

  “The girl from last Sunday?”

  Chris nodded. “Apparently she wasn’t satisfied when you said Joan was the hostess, so she wrote to Joan.”

  Kevin’s eyes widened. “Seriously? What did she say?”

  “She said she knew Joan was filling in because there was no one else to undertake hostess duties, but with everything else Joan had to do it wasn’t fair to expect her to do that, too. She said she’d been ready to return with you Sunday and be your hostess, but you were afraid it would hurt Joan’s feelings. She asked Joan to have someone pick her up so she could take that load off Joan. She included a map with her house marked and said she was looking forward to getting to know Joan while she was here this summer.”

  Kevin sat down and closed his eyes. “What did Joan say?”

  “Well, first she asked me if I knew anything about the girl. I told her what you’d told me, so she wrote her back and told her that while she appreciated the offer, the position was being handled by Rhianna, a close friend of yours and frequent guest at the castle.”

  “But what happens when the girl asks Minister Grayston about it and he has no idea what she’s talking about?”

  “That’s what I asked Joan.”

  “And?”

  “When Joan got the letter, she took it to Cryslyn, and then after Rhianna got back, the two of them went down to Doreen’s. I don’t know what all was said, but Rhianna will be here shortly to walk in with you and sit with you at the head table.”

  “I can’t believe they’d do something like this.”

  “Well, look at it from their perspective. They see two people who care a great deal about each other dancing all around it. They decided to give you a little push when the opportunity arose. They didn’t go looking for one, it hit Joan in the face with that letter. And keep in mind neither of them have any idea there was anything going on other than a blossoming relationship. You didn’t tell Joan and Karl about the problems in North Amden or Hayden’s plan. They bought your act, lock, stock, and barrel. So you can hardly blame them for thinking the two of you are together, which makes Rhianna the logical choice as hostess.”

  “How did they talk her into this?”

  “That I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Joan shared the letter with her. After Dara’s antics, Rhianna might have agreed to do it just to help you out. That would be my guess anyway, but if you want to know, you’ll have to ask her.”

  “The ministers will have a fit when they see me with a warrior elf.”

  “Do you care?”

  Kevin shook his head. “Not really, as long as they don’t insult her.”

  “I doubt any of them are that stupid, but if they are, you need to use your deaf ear. Let Karl handle it.”

  “I hear fine out of both ears.”

  “You know what I mean. Now let’s get downstairs. It’s time for Rhianna to get here and you don’t want to keep her waiting.”

  As they were leaving the room, Kevin asked, “Who are you escorting?”

  Chris laughed. “Probably Darrell.”

  ~~~~

  Kevin hadn’t been back in his office ten minutes when he heard the main door open. He got up, went to his door, and stopped dead in his tracks. For a minute, all Kevin could do was stare. Rhianna was exquisite. Her floor length dress was the color of sage and flowed around her as she moved. Her hair was swept up in jeweled combs with lo
ose curls falling around her face. She looked positively regal.

  When Kevin could breathe again he walked out of his office and took her hand. “You look amazing.”

  Rhianna smiled as a faint blush lit her cheeks. “I’m glad you like it. I’ve never worn anything like this before.”

  “You didn’t bring it with you?” Chris asked.

  Rhianna shook her head. “When Cryslyn came down last night, she said she’d take care of the dress, so I assume it belongs to the castle.”

  “Did Cryslyn borrow any of your clothes?” Chris asked.

  Rhianna hesitated and then nodded. “One of my tunics and a pair of leggings. She said with those they’d have the measurements they needed to alter a dress to fit me.”

  Kevin shook his head. “They made it just for you, and I have to say they did a beautiful job.”

  “There’s no way they made this dress in one day. They just altered one they had in storage.”

  Chris laughed. “Don’t put anything past Cryslyn and her crew.”

  Before Rhianna could argue, Karl and Joan walked in, followed by Darrell. After greeting everyone, Karl looked at Kevin. “Ready?”

  “You and Joan should lead,” Kevin said. “It’s your conference.”

  “But it’s your castle,” Joan said as she gently pushed him towards the door. “Rhianna? Ready?”

  Rhianna nodded and took her place beside Kevin

  “When this thing’s over, let’s go to Fenway’s for some scog,” Kevin whispered as he held his arm out toward Rhianna. “That’s more our style.”

  She laughed as she took his arm. “Looking forward to it.”

  ~~~~

  Kevin and Chris started taking the ministers home shortly after lunch Friday. It was late afternoon by the time Kevin got back from his final trip. Chris was already done.

  “Chris, can I see you for a minute?” Kevin asked as he walked into his office. After Chris followed him in, Kevin asked, “Is there anything else we need to do today?”

  “Not that I know of. Why?”

  “Let’s give the pages the rest of the day off, all of them, including Petri.”

  Chris frowned. “I’m not sure we can give Joan’s page the day off.”

  “You take care of ours. I’ll see Joan.”

  As Chris started to go, Kevin asked, “Are you going to talk to Darrell about working with Petri?”

  “Already done. Darrell said he’d talk to him next week.”

  “Did you mention it to Joan?”

  Chris shook his head. “I didn’t want to get into it while she was busy with the conference. I’ll see her Monday.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  “Probably that he’s shown a lot of interest in his self-defense classes so Darrell thought he’d try to get him interested in being a guard or a soldier after he ages out of being a page.”

  “That should work.” Kevin said. “I don’t want him finding out Rhianna told us what he said. The kids trust her and I don’t want to mess that up.”

  Chris nodded. “Where are you heading?”

  “After I talk to Joan, I’m going to find Nikki, give Marshall the rest of the day off, and see if Rhianna would like to go for a walk.”

  Chris grinned. “Coming back for dinner?”

  “I doubt it. We’ll grab something somewhere.”

  “Where? You can’t go to Fenway’s. He hasn’t found a cook yet.”

  “I know, but Blair’s cooking at Doreen’s and I have a standing invitation.”

  ~~~~

  Things were starting to get back to normal around the castle Monday. Chris was already upstairs when Kevin and Nikki made it back from their evening walk with Rhianna.

  “I brought you some scog,” Chris said as he motioned towards the second mug on the coffee table. “And Miranda had a plate fixed for us, but I think these cookies were leftover from the conference. They’re a little on the not so fresh side.”

  Kevin grinned. “But I notice you’re eating them anyway.”

  “I didn’t say they weren’t good, just that they aren’t as fresh as usual.”

  “Are you sure that was for us and not for the guards?”

  Chris hesitated. “No, not really. She didn’t put our name on it.” He looked at the half-empty plate and picked up another cookie. “Oh, well. Too late now.”

  Kevin picked up Nikki’s brush and started grooming her. “Anything happen I need to know about?”

  “Laryn came by. She and Steve want to visit Warren and Torrey again before you move them to the island. She wanted to know when they could go. I told her later this week would be good, maybe Wednesday or Thursday.”

  “Or they could go next week. I’m not moving them until the last Monday of the month.”

  “Have you told Warren yet?”

  Kevin thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Glendymere and I talked about it, but I don’t think it’s come up with Warren.”

  “Maybe you should go out there tomorrow and let them know. And tell Landis, too.”

  Kevin nodded as he brushed Nikki. “Remind me to go after dinner. And while I’m there I can tell them Laryn and Steve are coming.”

  “I’ll check with Laryn tomorrow and see which day they want to go.” Chris ate another cookie. “I have a question.”

  Kevin glanced at Chris. “What?”

  “Is Laryn pregnant?”

  Kevin turned his attention back to Nikki. “Why do you ask?”

  Chris shrugged. “I don’t know. I just think she is.”

  “Well, you’re right, but you can’t mention it to anyone.”

  “Why not?”

  “She doesn’t want anyone to know yet.”

  “Well, she better change her mind soon because I’m not the only one who’s noticing things. Even Darrell asked me if I thought she was acting a little strange. How long have you known?”

  “Since the end of April, but she doesn’t know I know.”

  “Huh?”

  “Warren told me. Apparently Laryn told Steve while they were in Rainbow Valley. Warren thought I knew, so he mentioned it. But I don’t know when she’s due because when he found out Laryn hadn’t told us, he wouldn’t say another word. He said it was her news to tell and for me to keep my mouth shut.”

  Chris raised his eyebrows. “Warren told you to keep your mouth shut?”

  Kevin nodded. “I don’t think he used those words, but his meaning was clear. And he specifically told me not to tell you.”

  Chris laughed and shook his head. “For someone who’s supposed to be the most powerful human on Terah, you don’t exactly inspire fear in the people who know you, do you?”

  Kevin grinned. “No, but he inspires a certain amount of fear in me. I do not want him angry with me, or worse, disappointed.”

  “So, what are you going to do about Laryn?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are you going to tell her you know and it’s time for her to tell everyone?”

  “No. I’m not saying a word.”

  “What are you going to say to Shadron when he wants to know why you didn’t let him know his sister was pregnant, or worse, Allisandra?”

  “That I didn’t know anything about it.”

  “Wrong answer,” Chris said. “Lying to family’s a bad idea. I don’t know how, but it always comes out. Imagine how you’re going to feel when Shadron finds out you lied to him.”

  Kevin leaned back against the couch. “Maybe you should ask Laryn if she’s pregnant. After all, you suspected it enough to ask me.”

  Chris shook his head vigorously. “No, no way, no how.”

  “Why not?”

  “For one thing, it’s none of my business. For another, she’s your aunt. You handle it.”

  “Maybe we could get Joan to do it.”

  “That’s up to you. I’m staying out of it.”

  For a few minutes, neither of them said anything. Then Kevin asked, “Did you get a chance to tell Joan about Petri
?”

  Chris nodded. “She thought it was a good idea. She said he knows being a page is a temporary thing. She’s hoping he’ll stick around if he thinks he has a future as a guard or a soldier.”

  “Good. Now, we need to find a way to get him in our office.”

  Chapter 7

  Sister Hayley

  The week after the ministers’ conference was unusually quiet, almost as if the castle were taking a break, but by the beginning of the next week, things were getting back to normal.

  Monday afternoon Chris walked into Kevin’s office and handed him a message. “From Sister Brena.”

  Kevin read the note and said, “She wants to meet with me and Theresa tomorrow morning.”

  “Did she say why?”

  Kevin shook his head. “Guess I’ll let Theresa know later this evening.”

  “You’ll need to go early. Even breakfast here is past Theresa’s bedtime. Maybe you should tell Brena mornings around here are too hectic for impromptu meetings and suggest evenings are better.”

  “Good idea. I’ll see what Theresa thinks.”

  ~~~~

  When Theresa and Kevin joined Brena for a cup of tea Tuesday morning, Brena said she’d received a letter from Morris, the town director of Bridgeport, requesting Hayley as their resident sister. “I have to admit, I was surprised.” Brena poured tea into four cups. “I didn’t realize they knew Hayley, much less well enough to build a chapel for her.”

  Theresa grinned. “Well, she did deliver Morris’s grandson.”

  Brena’s eyebrows arched. “How did that happen?”

  “Do you remember Marcus? The sorcerer who went with us when we went to Drisden and Glenco?”

  Brena frowned, then slowly nodded. “I don’t think I met him though.”

  “He and Hayley have become good friends,” Kevin started.

  Theresa raised her eyebrows. “I’d say they’re more than friends.”

  “Anyway he’s from Bridgeport,” Kevin continued, “and he goes up there to visit about once a month and Hayley goes with him, or at least she has since last fall.”

  “And that’s how she was there when Morris’s daughter went into labor?” Brena asked.

  “Daughter-in-law, but yes,” Theresa said.